The legendary actor may no longer be in this world, but he has left behind a treasure trove of melodies that will keep him among us forever

From romantic duets and patriotic hymns to idealistic ballads and playful numbers, Dev Anand is one star who could effortlessly carry off the diametrically opposite tunes onscreen. During the evergreen actor’s initial years the mellifluous singer Mohammed Rafi was his voice and later Kishore Kumar, whose effervescent singing style became the voice of Dev saab’s songs. And with them he created magic that is not seasonal, but timeless, compositions that appeal even in the 21st century. Like movie-making, the late star was passionate about making music too. He would spend endless hours and days together to get the perfect melody. When Dev Anand was making Guide, his favourite music director SD Burman was unwell, so the composer told him to go ahead and work with another musician. But Dev Anand refused to give up and waited for him to be back in the studios. Such was his passion and madness for everything related to movies and music. We are sure most of Dev Anand’s songs are worth a listen even today, but here are some melodies that will keep the legendary actor alive in our memories for years to come….

Kishore Kumar has been the voice for almost every actor spanning generations — from Dev Anand in the ’50s to Rishi Kapoor in the ’80s.

His amazing ability to modulate his voice to suit the respective actor was what made him a rare talent. On his 82nd birth anniversary we look at the magic he created with some of them, the magic that lives on…

Dev Anand

Kishore Kumar sang the first playback song of his life, Marne ki duayein kyu maangoo for Dev Anand in Ziddi. Through the ’50s, Dev Anand and Kishore Kumar rose together to become a sensation and forged a very strong bond of friendship, too. Some of their superhit songs include Jeevan ke safar mein rahi from the movie Munimji and Chodd do anchal from Paying Guest. Even when Anand directed his first film Prem Pujari, Kishore sang all the songs. The movie didn’t do well at the BO but the soundtrack which included songs like Phoolon ke rang se and Shokhiyon me ghola jaye became a hugely popular. He continued to be the voice for Anand even through the ’60s and these are some of Kishore’s most romantic songs.

Rajesh Khanna

The list of Kishore Kumar-Rajesh Khanna classics is probably the longest. Most of the hit songs that Kishore sang in the early ’70s were for the then superstar Rajesh Khanna. The soundtrack of films like Safar (1970), Anand (1971), Andaz (1971), Kati Patang (1971) and Amar Prem (1972) is considered amongst Kishore’s all-time best. He sang many soulful, semi-classical and memorable sad songs for Khanna — Chingari koi bhadke, Diye jalte hain, Mere dil me aaj kya hai, O mere dil ke chain, Kuch to log kahenge and many many more.

When a much-older Kishore started singing for a very young and boyish Rishi Kapoor in the early ’80s, he sounded as young as ever. Shailendra Singh did playback for a lot of Rishi’s films but the Rishi-Kishore jodi also worked wonders. Most of Rishi’s songs were youthful and fast-paced, and Kishore did full justice to them. Ek main aur ek tu (Khel Khel Mein), Om shanti om (Karz), Bachna Aye Haseeno (Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin), Chehra hai ya chand (Sagar) and others.